Nolan Visits Santa: Year Two

This year Nolan has embraced all things Christmas. From "helping" pull all of the decorations out of their boxes, to "decorating" the tree, to helping James put up the outside Christmas lights. Nolan is ALL about Christmas. Each morning as soon as Nolan wakes up, he promptly announces, "Turn Christmas On!" This means we turn on each of the four Christmas trees, the lighted Snow Village, the mantle lights, etc. He never misses one. So in the spirit of the season, a trip to visit Santa was in order.

If you read my post last year, you may remember that the "best Santa" is at Northpark Mall. So of course my mom and I once again engaged in the production that is having your picture taken with "this" Santa.   You must get there hours early, take a number and return at an approximate time to wait anxiously for your number to be posted. Sounds easy, but with an almost two year old, this can be a challenge. 

Now you have to know that I have worried about how the visit to Santa would go this year judging by the Easter Bunny experience.  We have really been talking up Santa this year and how WONDERFUL he is. Reading books about him, singing about him, pointing him out on TV, etc. All in the hopes of showing Nolan that Santa is our friend.  Santa has story time before he begins taking pictures, so we took Nolan to it. He looked at Santa and even waved at him.  Good sign!

As our number approached all systems were go.  He was primped, ketchup from lunch wiped clean from his white shirt, Santa was in view and so far so good. Mom and I were talking him up and, I have to admit, bribing him with a new car (the Matchbox variety) and a cookie if he would stop pulling on his sweater and smile when he sat with Santa. He was even ok as he and I approached Santa, but the split second he sat on his lap…. Well, let’s just say things went awry. Where did good Nolan from one second ago disappear to?  He instantly burst into BIG tears and started screaming "mommy, mommy, mommy." I am not talking about a little bit of anxiety and a few tears. I am hear to report it was if a major catastrophe occurred.  The photographer tried to distract him with Elmo and Santa pulled out a surprise toy, but it was a "no go" in a big way. I was promptly told to pick him up and end his misery.  Nolan told me "need blankie please"… his version of a stiff drink!

As we viewed our one picture on the computer screen Nolan said (happily I might add), "picture cry."  You got that one right buddy! I decided to go ahead and get one keepsake picture. It is an accurate document of how Nolan feels about Santa at two years old after all. Unfortunately this is not a picture for the grandparents’ mantle.

As Nolan and I walked hand in hand away from Santa I asked Nolan, "Do you like Santa?" to which Nolan happily replied, "Yes I do!"  I just looked at my mom and sighed!